A recent study analyzed the link between energy drink consumption and sudden cardiac arrest in patients with genetic heart diseases, focusing on 144 survivors, with 5% having consumed energy drinks prior to their event. Despite lacking direct causation evidence, the study, accompanied by expert commentary, warns of the potential risks due to the high caffeine content and unregulated ingredients in energy drinks. Patients with predisposing genetic conditions are advised to be cautious about their intake of such beverages.
A recent study published in Heart Rhythm , the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, and the Pediatric & Congenital Electrophysiology Society, explored the risks associated with energy drink consumption among patients with genetic heart conditions. Conducted at the Mayo Clinic, the research involved 144 survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, with 7 of these patients (5%) having consumed energy drinks shortly before their cardiac event. Although the study did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, caution is advised, and doctors recommend that patients consume energy drinks in moderation.
Lead investigator of the study Michael J. Ackerman, MD, PhD, Genetic Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and Director of the Mayo Clinic Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory in Rochester, MN, says, “The energy drink market in the United States has been growing consistently over the past few years, raising co.
